Shaft coupling



Jan. 25, 1949. R. F. BERGMANN SHAFT COUPLING Filed sg t. 10, 1942 3nnento: RICHARD F BERGMA/V/V Gttorneg Patented Jan. 25, 1949 Richard F..Bergmann, Wlnnetka, 111.,

assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 10, 1942, Serial No. 457.806

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to shaft couplings and provides a novel type of coupling by means of which positive driving engagement may be obtained between two shafts with the simultaneous elimination of operating difficulties resulting from any slight misalignment between the shafts.

While the shaft coupling of the present invention is readily capable of adaptation to many kindred forms of apparatus, it represents a particularly advantageous means of providing a-positive driving connection between a power source and a thread-advancing thread store device. The invention is. therefore, also intended to embrace the combination of a thread-advancing thread store device and a shaft coupling.

Such thread-advancing thread store devices are used in the continuous production of synthetic fibers or threads by the viscose process. In general, the process includes the steps of extruding a spinning solution into a coagulating bath, withdrawing the coagulated thread from the bath, and thereafter subjectlngit to various processing operations. In the continuous production of thread by this process, the thread is advantageously treated while temporarily stored on a plurality of thread-advancing thread store de-- vices. The thread may be withdrawn from the bath by such a device and then passed successively over one or more additional devices on which the processing of the thread is completed. Such devices may advantageously take the form of that shown and described in Knebusch'Patent No. 2,210,914, and may be supported and driven in the manner described in Torrence et al. Patent No. 2,249,798.

Because the newly coagulated thread is quite delicate, it is important that the tension to which the thread is subjected in passing from one reel to the next succeeding reel be maintained as nearly constant as possible. Variations in the tension may result in the production of threads having.

non-uniform dyeing characteristics.

The thread in passing over the successive reels is usually under tension and it has been found that relatively slight mechanical discrepancies in the driving engagement between the threadadvancing reel and its power source may be accentuated, apparently due to the tension in the v 2 I loose or sloppy fit or tend to develop such conditions due to wear upon the interfltting parts after extended use.

In the case of the ordinary tongue and groove connection-for example, it is difficult to machine the shafts so that the elements will fit snugly together. Occasionally the tongue or the groove may be cut slightly off center with respect to the axis on the shaft on which it is formed. Moreover, wear results after such parts are assembled and operated thus accentuating misalignment therebetween. In some instances, although the driving connection may be accurately machined, the means formounting the reel or other device operatively associated with the drive shaft may introduce conditions which effect an imperfect engagement of the driving connection. All of these factors cause the axes of the shafts to assume a non-coincident relation.

In the operation of such an imperfect tongue and groove connection, only a relatively small portion of the surface, sometimes only a corner, of the tongue is in driving contact with one of the faces of the groove at any given time. As the shafts rotate in this manner, there are two intervals in each revolution during which drivingcontact between the tongue and the groove shifts due to the non-coincidence of the axes .of the two shafts. Thus, if one comer of the tongue is originally in driving contact with one-face of the groove, the corner diagonally opposite it will thereafter contact the other face of the groove in driving relation. This action recurs at points in every revolution of the shafts which are diametrically opposite each other, thereby causing a momentary lapse in driving contact between the shafts. 7

Since the thread on leaving the reel is under tension, it tends to exert a rotational motion upon the reel which exceeds the angular velocity imparted to the reel by the power source.

thread, to an extent such that the reel develops 3 what may be characterized as a "rocking motion. This results in a variation in the tension to which the thread is subjected with the result that the dyeing characteristics of the thread may be adversely affected.

The relatively slight mechanical discrepancies which appear to be the cause of this rocking motion arise out of unavoidable inaccuracies in machining of conventional means for effecting driving engagement between the reel shaft and the drive shaft. Such means are-subject to a During the interval in which the aforementioned shift. takes place the restraint which the constant driving motion of the drive shaft exerts in opposition to the rotational motion imparted to the reel as a result of the tension applied to the thread is momentarily removed.- The tensional force applied to the thread thus imparts-.a sudden brief acceleration to the reel causing a sharp pull on the thread feeding onto the reel with the resultant variation in tension in a very short length of the thread. 4

The shaft coupling of the present invention is intended to eliminate these diiliculties and is adapted to correct not only for an angular misalignment of the shafts but also for offset between them. It comprises a sleeve member having a plurality of internal axially extending grooves adjacent each end thereof and a pair of hub members provided with external splines adapted to engage the grooves in the sleeve member. The hub members are associated with the sleeve member in such fashion that they have an endwise movement in a substantially axial direction with respect to the sleeve member. The extent of such axial motion may be readily varied depending upon the degree of misalignment between the shafts for which correction is desired, the diameter of the shafts and other related factors.

The shaft coupling of the invention has the further advantage of being unitary in construction thereby simplifying its installation. It may, for instance, be mounted on one ofthe shafts so that it is readily disengageably connected to the other of the shafts. being held in place only by the supporting means for mounting the mechanism to be actuated in operating relation to the power source. In addition, the parts of the coupling of the invention are readily replaceable when they become worn.

Other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description of the invention proceeds. In the description which follows, reference will be made to the use of one form of shaft coupling embodying the teachings of the present invention in conjunction with a typical processing reel.

Figure 1 represents a partial longitudinal cross section with parts in elevation illustrating a processing reel actuated by a Dower source through the medium of the shaft coupling of the instant invention. Figure 2 is a transverse cross section of the assembled coupling as it appears from a plane passed through line 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a section similar to that of Figure 2 taken through the coupling as seen from line 2-3 in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section through the coupling as seen from line l4 in Figure 1. Figure 5 illustrates the driven shaft, the drive shaft and the association of the several parts comprising the shaft coupling of the present invention in disassembled relation.

In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, thread-advancing reel 6 is shown as being demountably secured in cup mounting I of transmission 8 by means of a plurality of set screws 2 which bear against flange i forming part of supporting member H of reel 6. As previously indicated, reel 6 which is operated by shaft 12 suitably journaled in supporting member H is of the type shown and described in Knebusch Patent 2,210,914. 7

Any suitable driving means may be employed to actuate reel 6: the illustrated shaft I 3 forms part of transmission 8 which represents only one of a number of suitable means. Shaft I3 is shown as being journaled in bearings l4 and is driven from gear I through the medium of the conventional jaw clutch mechanism It. driven by an intermeshing gear mounted upon a transverse shaft (not shown) forming part of transmission 8.

Shaft coupling 8, which connects shaft ll of transmission 8 and shaft I2 of reel 6, comprises sleeve |9 which is provided in its internal bore with a plurality of axially extending grooves 2| adjacent the ends of said sleeve. To facilitate machining, grooves 2| may extend from end to end of sleeve l9is desired. Disposed within bore 20 of coupling I8 is a hub member 22 having-a plurality of external splines 23 which correspond in number and arrangement 'to grooves 2| of sleeve I! and intermesh therewith. Agreater or Gear I5 is- 4 lesser number of splines 22 of varying shapes may, if desired, be provided on hub member 22 depending upon the number and character of grooves 2| in bore 20 of sleeve l9 consistent with 5 the ei'flcient operation of coupling l8.

Hub member 22 is positioned within bore 20 of sleeve l8 and adjacent one end thereof by means of snap rings 24 which engage spaced annular grooves 2| cut into bore 20 of sleeve is and bear against splines 22. Snap rings 24 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the overall width of the spiined portion of hub member 22 to allow for limited endwise movement of said hub member in a substantially axial direction with respect to said sleeve l9. This freedom of movement permits hub member 22 to correct for a small amount of offset or angular misalignment of the reel shaft as will be explained hereinafter.

Hub member 22 is adapted to be demountably 20 secured to shaft |2 of reel 6 by means of set screws 25 threaded into one-or more splines 23 and key 26 which registers with keyway 21 in bore 20 of said hub member. Access to set screws 2! for adjustment thereof is provided by holes 29 25 which are located adjacent the position of said set screws in hub member 22: in this instance. they are illustrated as being positioned diametrically opposite to each other and extending through the wall of sleevel 9.

3o Disposed within bore 20 of sleeve i8 and adjacent to the end of said sleeve opposite hub member 22 is a second hub member 3|. Hub member 3| is positioned between snap rings 32 which engage spaced annular grooves 32 in said bore 20 a5 and bear against splines 34 of hub member 3| in the same manner as hub member 22. Splines 24 are substantially identical in number and disposition on hub member 3| to the corresponding splines 22 of hub member 22. Grooves 2| of 40 sleeve l8 intermesh with splines 34 and transmit the driving force from shaft l3 of transmission I to splines 22 and thus serve to actuate shaft |2 of reel 6.

Hub member 2| may be mounted in any suitable fashion upon driving shaft ll of transmission. I: in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it is adapted to be slidably mounted upon the free end of said shaft II. A typical mounting means comprises a pair of spaced blades 25 disposed transversely of bore 36 of hub member 2|. Blades are inserted in slots 31 in collar portion 28 of hub member 3| and held in place by means of a snap ring 39 set in annular groove 40 which encircles said collar portion 28. The blade construction is particularly advantageous for the reason that, in the event of wear, they may be readily replaced.

flnasmuch as coupling I8 in its preferred form is, as previously indicated, a unitary structure, it may be readily installed in apparatus with which coupling means are required. The device of the present invention is particularly adapted to apparatus of the character of that shown in Figure 1 in that it may be applied to reel 6 after which said reel may be mounted upon transmission 2 ready for operation with little, if any, resultant delay orinconvenience.

To this end coupling II as a unit is first mounted upon shaft l2 of reel 6 by inserting the end of said shaft in bore ll of hub member 22 so that key 20 registers with keyway 21 after which set screws 25 are adjusted. Reel 6 with attached coupling is is then positioned in cup mounting 1 of transmission 8 so that tongue 4| 76 on the end of shaft l3, when the latter is inserted in bore 36 of hub member 3|, will register with the socket formed between spaced blades 35 of said hub member. When this is accomplished, flange ID of supporting member H of reel 6 will be in its proper position in cup mounting 1 and set screws 9 may be adjusted to hold the reel in place ready for operation.

' In operation, shaft |3 of transmission 8 is rotated by gear I5 when jaw clutch I6 is engaged, the power being furnished by a suitable means such, for example, as a transversely extending shaft and a gear (not shown) which meshes-with said gear l5. Rotation of shaft I3 is transmitted to hub member 3| through the medium of tongue 4| on said shaft and spaced blades 35 forming.

The spacing provided between the snap rings 24 which maintain hub member 22 in engagement with sleeve l9 and snap rings 32 which are similarly associated with hub member 3| provides both of said hub members with a limited endwise movement axially of sleeve l9. Moreover, the sides of splines 23, 34 of hub members 22 and 3|, respectively, as previously indicated, are the only points of contact with grooves 23 of sleeve IS. A substantial clearance is provided not only betweenthe points of said splines 23, 34 and the bottom of grooves 28 but also between the base of the notch between the splines on each hub member and the ridges between the grooves of sleeve l9, thus permitting a certain degree of cooking of hub members 22, 3| with respect to The degree of freedom required in such couplings will vary with the nature of the misalign- Shoulders disposed in bore 20 of sleeve l9 may supplant the innermost snap rings of each pair of rings 24 and 32. Other suitable means for attaching hub members 22 and ,3| may be substi- 5 tuted for those shown and described.

I I claim: 1

1. In combination, a thread-advancing store device including a rotatable shaft, a drive shaft for actuating said thread-advancing thread store device, a sleeve coupling comprising-a sleeve having within it a pair of movable shaft receiving hub members for connecting said shafts, means for retaining said hub members in said sleeve,

one of said hub members being adapted to receive one of said shaft-s and adapted to be demountably secured thereto, and the other of said hub members being provided with an axially extending-bore in which are disposed at least two spaced blade members extending transversely of said bore and between which blade members an end of one of the shafts may be slidably inserted.

2. A coupling adapted to provide a positive driving engagement and correction for misalignment between two shafts comprising a fully 25 open-ended sleeve member having axially extending grooves throughout its length, a pair of externally splined shaft receiving movable hub members retained within said sleeve member, the

splines of said hub member being in mesh'with the grooves of said sleeve member, each of said 'hub members being adapted to be inserted in one of the open ends of said sleeve member, means between said hub members for limiting the inward movement of said hub members and 5 detachable means for maintaining the splines of said hub members in engagement in said sleeve member and permitting an endwise movement a of said hub membersin a substantially axial direction with respect to said sleeve member, said 40 detachable means being adapted to be inserted in the open end of said sleeve after the hubs have been positioned, means associated with one hub member for demountably securing it to one of said shafts, and sa d last mentioned hub member being provide with an internal axially extending bore in which are disposed at least two spaced blade members extending transversely of said bore and between which blade members an end of one of the shafts may be slidably inserted.

ment for whichcorrection is to be made as well.

as'with the-sizes of the shafts to be coupled.

" It will be apparent that the shaft coupling of the instant invention presents an advantageous means of correcting for inaccuracies of the character hereinbefore described which may be encountered in apparatus incorporating a drive shaft and a driven shaft. In the absence of a device such as that to which the invention re-- RICHARD F. BERGMANN.

REFERENCES CITED u The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,839,799 Morgan 1----.. Jan. 5, 1932 1,913,288 Pierce June 6, 1933 1,983,007 Simons Dec. 4, 1934 2,136,947 Morgan Nov. 15, 1938 2,153,919 Forsythe Apr. 11, 1939 2,172,662 Kuhns et ai. Sept. 12, 1939 2,286,444 smith June 16, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 7 Country Date 377,761 Great Britain Aug. 4, 1932 55,720 Austria Oct. 10, m2 

